COVID Nails Can Show If You Catch the Virus, Here's How Beau's Line Looks Like

Numerous side effects can show after people contracted COVID, and surprisingly, one of the symptoms can be found through COVID nails. Dr. Tim Spector, an epidemiologist, and Zoe COVID Symptom Study App's principal investigator shared a possible symptom of contracting the virus before. Nails with clear, horizontal dents are noticeable after recovery from the virus, according to the professor.

What do COVID nails look like?

The odd nails, often called COVID nails, manifests horizontal grooves and several indentations on the surface of the nail plate. After recovery from the coronavirus, people reported features from their nails that have striking features of Beau's lines. It appears if nail growth is interrupted due to severe illness or mild injuries.

(Photo: Pixabay/Hans)

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Beau's line causes

According to Harvard Health Publishing, Beau's lines can appear when a person goes through physiological stress. The ridges mostly show on more than a single fingernail and even toenails. The dents occur when the nail development, from beneath the cuticle to the nail plate, pauses.

Usually, systemic side effects cause odd nails, which explains why it is found in some people who have undergone chemotherapy. Other causes of Beau's lines include lack of blood flow on fingers, nutrient deficiencies, metabolic issues, and illnesses that produce high fever.

Is having COVID nails a sign of catching the virus?

Do your nails look odd? COVID nails are increasingly being recognised as the nails recover after infection and the growth recovers leaving a clear line. Can occur without skin rashes and appears harmless pic.twitter.com/Q1Lfdrc9Dc
— Tim Spector MD (Prof) (@timspector) May 3, 2021

CMAJ published several cases which were already recorded on the association of Beau's lines and the virus. On one occasion, a 45-year old man showed signs of the COVID nails after diagnosed with the virus almost four months prior to having Beau's lines.

Having the COVID nails doesn't necessarily mean that you had the coronavirus, according to Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Flu, critical illness, infections, and anything that leads to a high level of fever are responsible for the grooves on fingernails.

In an interview with HuffPost, President of the British Association of Dermatologists Dr. Tanya Bleiker said that the ridges form between two to three weeks of catching an illness but are harmless and just grow off. Dr. Bleiker emphasized that the odd nails are not exclusive to COVID.

It is clear at every expert's note that COVID nails can be triggered by any illness and not just COVID.

Dr. Spector added that the shared experience of having the COVID nails is due to many people exposed to the virus at a similar time.

COVID symptoms

Many are aware of the coronavirus symptoms, including fever and cough. However, there are still rare symptoms that can be a sign of catching the virus. Dr. Spector shared that one in five people who exhibit less common symptoms such as muscle ache, chills, and loss of appetite doesn't get listed on the official Public Health England list.

Additional less common symptoms include diarrhea, discoloration of fingers and toes, conjunctivitis, and rash on the skin. Some of the severe symptoms include loss of speech, shortness of breath, unbalanced movement, chest pressure, and breathing difficulty.

If you or someone are experiencing any of the COVID symptoms, it is better to get tested and secure your health. Feel free to call 911 or your emergency facility to receive COVID guidelines and recovery.